Argentina v Benin tips: goals at the Monumental
We're backing over 4.5 goals in Argentina v Benin @1.59 at Betway. Argentina have scored eleven without reply in two friendlies, with six different players scoring in the 7-0 win over Burkina Faso before Lionel Messi's farewell.
Argentina v Benin. Wednesday, 7 October 2026, 01:00 SAST. Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires.
Key takeaways
- Argentina followed a 4-0 win over Bolivia with seven against Burkina Faso.
- Rodolfo Aloko scored twice in Benin's 2-1 win over Mauritania.
- Kick-off is 01:00 SAST on Wednesday, not Tuesday evening in South Africa.
Our selection
| Selection | Book | Odds | Stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 4.5 goals Total Goals (90 minutes) | Betway | @1.59 | 0.5 unit |
Six scorers, not one farewell act
Lautaro Martinez, Gianluca Prestianni, Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez all scored before half-time against Burkina Faso. An own goal completed a five-goal first half, before Franco Mastantuono and Giuliano Simeone added two more after the break.
That distribution matters more to our selection than the occasion surrounding Messi. Argentina's latest rout did not depend on one striker finishing every chance, and the goals continued through different attacking contributors in the second half.
The earlier 4-0 win over Bolivia adds a second substantial total to the argument. Argentina have already produced one result above this 4.5-goal line and another just below it during the current window.
The Burkina Faso game was also played at the Monumental. Argentina return to the same ground with their attack scoring freely, rather than travelling after that performance or moving into a competitive fixture against a different level of opposition.
| Team | Recent opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Bolivia | Won 4-0 |
| Argentina | Burkina Faso | Won 7-0 |
| Benin | Mauritania | Won 2-1 |
Aloko gives Benin an answer
Benin arrive unbeaten from their two opening Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They drew with Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1, with Rodolfo Aloko scoring both goals to open his account for the national team.
Benin have lost only once in their last six internationals, winning three and drawing two. That recent record is the strongest objection to our goals selection, particularly after they avoided defeat against the Burkina Faso side Argentina then dismantled.
Steve Mounie is unavailable through injury. His absence takes an established forward out of Benin's attack, placing more weight on Aloko's recent contribution and Aiyegun Tosin's ability to provide a threat further forward.
For the goals bet, Benin's response matters. Aloko has just shown he can decide an international with two goals, while Argentina are missing the suspended Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes. Those absences give Benin a reason to attack a changed side despite Argentina's two clean sheets.
Messi returns for one final Argentina appearance
Messi announced his international retirement in August, but Lionel Scaloni persuaded him to return for this farewell. Nicolas Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso have also been included for the occasion.
A sold-out Monumental will be focused on Messi. Our selection instead covers the whole attack: Martinez and Alvarez scored in the previous game, while Paz, Prestianni, Mastantuono and Simeone supplied four more goals between them.
The changes are also a reason to limit the stake. Argentina's successful attacking combinations from the Burkina Faso game will not necessarily receive the same minutes, and Benin's recent results are stronger than a seven-goal scoreline might suggest.
Five goals is the line we prefer
Betway quotes over 3.5 goals at @1.25 and over 4.5 at @1.59. We're taking the higher line for half a unit because Argentina's recent scoring has come from several players and Benin have scored twice in their latest outing.
The @2.18 price for over 5.5 asks more of the game than we want. Benin's unbeaten qualifying start is a meaningful difference from simply projecting Argentina's last result onto another opponent.
Our South African betting sites comparison sits alongside the football coverage. This preview uses the standard match total, with kick-off at 01:00 SAST on 7 October, five hours ahead of Tuesday's 20:00 start in Buenos Aires.
Verdict
Over 4.5 goals @1.59 at Betway is our half-unit pick. Argentina's eleven goals across two friendlies and Aloko's brace support the total, while Benin's stronger recent results keep us off the six-goal line.